Koraput: The dilapidated Koraput bus stand is all set to get a major facelift with a completely new construction. The government has approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared for the same, with an estimated cost of Rs. 86 crores. Following the state government’s approval, a wave of happiness has swept through the residents of the town.
The restoration and repair of the existing bus stand had become urgent. Pieces of bricks, cement, and plaster from the roof would frequently fall, making passengers feel unsafe. As demands for a new terminal grew, Koraput Municipality Chairman Lalat Ranjan Sethi, along with all councillors, had met the Chief Minister and appealed for approval of the DPR.
Koraput MLA Raghuram Machh stated that the state government has approved Rs. 86 crores for the construction of a new model bus terminal. The current bus stand, which falls under Koraput Municipality, was built around 30 years ago. It has a ground floor with shops and seating space for passengers. Government and private bus ticket counters and temporary shops have also been allocated space for business.
Though the upper floor of the complex was constructed, it remains unused. From this bus stand, several express buses run regularly to different corners of the state and to neighboring Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. However, hundreds of people sit under the unsafe structure every day, waiting for buses.
The then government had already planned for a separate bus terminal and had instructed the district administration to identify land and prepare a plan and design. The identified space included the nearby hockey ground. All shops in the area were proposed to be demolished to make way for a new commercial complex along with a modern bus terminal. The design had a projected cost of around Rs. 89 crores. The proposal file had been pending with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
During the Parab festival, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister Prabhati Parida announced plans to promote tourism in the district. The municipality chairman and councillors had submitted a memorandum regarding the bus stand.
Now, with the approval of the DPR by the state government, hopes are high for a brand-new bus terminal in Koraput.